International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014 1 ISSN 2250-3153

Communication of Gender through Personal Grooming and adornment in Different Cultures and different Times

Chang’orok Joel and Clariss Kasamba

Abstract- In the Concise Oxford Dictionary, image is described had noted in a previous study made in 1915 that estimates of as "the character or reputation of a person or thing as generally traits in the same person were very highly and evenly correlated. perceived". A first impression based on non-verbal The psychological concept 'halo effect' has stood the test of time; communication goes a long way in influencing this perception it states that if we know certain positive things about a person, and within seconds of meeting someone for the first time, your we tend to have a generally positive impression of that person, appearance, body language and non-verbal communication will sometimes even in spite of evidence to the contrary i.e. in the create a lasting first impression, and that person will assume to Kenyan case of Waititu beating up a Masai man and inciting his know everything about you. Like it or not, it's true and the work people against. Whether the young man had stolen or not, people world demands making a great first impression and keeping it. sympathized with him simply because the community has been This paper looks at how communication of gender is manifested known for being polite and probably Kenyan trademark. through personal grooming and adornment in different cultures The halo effect also extends to a person's dressing and and in fact different times in the world. It goes further to delve on appearance that is why a positive first visual impression is so whether really women -a times ―dress to kill‖ as well as youth important. If someone is nicely dressed and looks well put- and the popular culture today. All this in an effort to check on together, we have greater confidence in his or her abilities even whether - indeed people dress to communicate, entertain or just before he or she has said a word. In Kenya for example, the cover their nakedness. Specifically, the people looks at how a pastors have to dress and dress and behave in a way to create an person’s gender determines how they dress as well as how impression they have been inspired by Holy Spirit. cultures determine the way we dress. On the contrary, the devil effect, also known as the reverse halo effect, is when people allow an undesirable trait to influence Index Terms- dressing for communication, culture and dressing, their evaluation of other traits. The Guardian wrote of the devil communicating through personal grooming. effect in relation to Hugo Chavez: "Some leaders can become so demonized that it's impossible to assess their ach achievements and failures in a balanced way I. INTRODUCTION mage vs. Perception; Well, as they ―light travels faster than Gender differences and the Hallo Effect I sound‖ thus you are seen before you are heard ad before even Kaplan’s (1978) study yielded much of the same results as uttering a word your visual image will say a multitude about you are seen in other studies focusing on the halo effect—attractive as an individual. Michener (2003) posed that your perceived individuals were rated high in qualities such as creativity, level of intelligence, competence, affability, self-esteem, intelligence, and sensitivity than unattractive individuals. confidence, power, beliefs and success and in respect about the However, in addition to these results Kaplan found that women organization you represent (its philosophy, culture, and standard were influenced by the halo effect on attractiveness only when of service). We constantly send out silent messages providing presented with members of the opposite sex. When presented clues to both existing and potential clients and colleagues. Based with an attractive member of the same sex, women actually on these; the paper critically looks at how persons, organizations tended to rate the individual lower on socially desirable or groups and even a community take these clues or cues to . qualities. Dermer and Thiel (1975) continue this line of research, consider you for a job or promotion (in the case of an interview), going on to demonstrate that jealousy of an attractive individual consider buying your organization's products and services, could be a major factor in evaluation of that person. Their work formation of attitudes about you, how to think and treat you as shows this to be more prevalent among females than males, with you interact in a communication or social situation in your day-in females describing physically attractive women as having day-out interaction. The paper highlights how people, groups, socially undesirable traits like in the case of Lupita Nyongo organizations or communities are affected by your appearance, where women posted more negative comments than men. whether or not they realize it, and whether or not they think appearance is important. In short, your visual presentation has Appearance and Interview Success consequences. During interviews, most employers are severely irritated by inappropriate dress, mumbling and even poor handshakes by job Hallo Effect Theory applicants during interviews. However, Myer D (2003) in their Edward Thorndike, (1920) known for his contributions to book Social Psychology, Dressing in a professional yet stylish educational psychology, coined the phrase "halo effect" in his manner can give you a tremendous feeling of confidence that is 1920 article ―The Constant Error in Psychological Ratings‖. He exhibited to others through your attitude and actions." Recent studies conducted on interview habits they found that over a

www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014 2 ISSN 2250-3153 quarter were upset by unsuitable clothing or appearance. It is Fashion therefore clear that how u dress matter. Not only can particular styles of clothes define a person as Looking at the following excerpt: Pamela Monticelli, a an individual, but also as a part of a group. According to Thomas senior recruiter for Sovereign Bank in Tom's River, New Jersey, (2007) ―Fashion is a language of signs, symbols and iconography believes, "Especially in the financial industry, which tends to be that non-verbally communicate meanings about individuals and a more conservative environment, what a lot of the younger groups.‖ Depending on the context clothes and other defining people don't understand is that we are looking for someone to objects can mean very different things, Fred (1994) discusses the represent the company. So your appearance is not just way that clothes and fashion can represent identity through the representative of you; you will also be representing the company semiotic notion of code. the way we want it to be represented." She adds, "I have raised Davis (1994). Adds, although you can give meaning to four teenagers and every one of them has, at some point, gotten a semiotics signs can change and this applies to trends as well. piercing or tattoo and has said that 'if I am are going to work for Fashion design and symbolic adornments can have very XYZ Company they need to accept me for who I am.' My definitive symbols, but depending on the time and place those children need to understand that at some point they might have to symbols can be constantly shifting and changing. Even though modify their appearance to fit into a professional environment. they may change they are still held to their symbolic meaning by While companies believe in a diverse environment, you also the collective culture. don't want to offend your customers." Gender and Dressing code Dressing code In some traditions, certain types of clothing are worn Dress codes are written and, more often, unwritten rules with exclusively or predominantly by either men or women. For regard to clothing. Clothing like other aspects of human physical example, the wearing of a skirt tends to be associated with appearance has a social significance, with different rules and female dress, while trousers are associated with male dress. expectations being valid depending on circumstance and Hairdressing in some societies may also conform to a dress code, occasion. Even within a single day an individual may need to such as long hair for women and short hair for men. Some navigate between two or more dress codes, at a minimum these headgear are usually geared towards women, such as hair-clips, are those that apply at their place of work and those at home, hairpins, and barrettes. usually this ability is a result of cultural acclimatization. Different societies and cultures will have different dress norms Personal Grooming and Social status although Western styles are commonly accepted as valid most In many societies, particular clothing may indicate social cases. status, reserved or affordable to people of high rank. For The dress code has built in rules or signals indicating the example, in Ancient Rome only senators were permitted to wear message being given by a person's clothing and how it is worn. garments dyed with Tyrian purple; and, in traditional Hawaiian This message may include indications of the person's gender, society, only high-ranking chiefs could wear feather cloaks and income, occupation and social class, political, ethnic and palaoa or carved whale teeth. In China before the establishment religious affiliation, attitude and attitude towards comfort, of the republic, only the emperor could wear yellow. Just like in fashion, traditions, gender expression, marital status, sexual Nigerian where dressing distinguishes the social and gender availability, and sexual orientation, etc. Clothes convey other roles. In Kenya Masai’s are famous for the red shukas etc. social messages including the stating or claiming personal or The school uniform came about because of bullying tha cultural identity, the establishing, maintaining, or defying social become a major problem in school systems amongst all ages. It group norms, and appreciating comfort and functionality. For led to social issues, self-doubt, depression and even suicide example, wearing expensive clothes can communicate wealth, attempts amongst students. In 1996, former President Bill the image of wealth, or cheaper access to quality clothing. All Clinton announced his support for the idea of school uniforms factors apply inversely to the wearing of inexpensive clothing stated, ―School uniforms are one step that may help break the and similar goods. The observer sees the resultant, expensive cycle of violence, truancy and disorder by helping young clothes, but may incorrectly perceive the extent to which these students understand what really counts is what kind of people factors apply to the person observed. Clothing can convey a they are.‖ It did not take much more than this presidential social message, even if none is intended. approval to get many school districts across the country on If the receiver's code of interpretation differs from the board. By requiring students to wear a school uniform they are sender's code of communication, misinterpretation follows. In less likely to have something to make fun of other students for. every culture, current fashion governs the manner of consciously This would cause the students to get to know one another by their constructing, assembling, and wearing clothing to convey a personality and who they really are rather than the clothes they social message. The rate of change of fashion varies, and so wear. modifies the style in wearing clothes and its accessories within months or days, especially in small social groups or in Occupation and Dressing communications media-influenced modern societies. More Military, police, and firefighters usually wear uniforms, as extensive changes, requiring more time, money, and effort to do workers in many industries. School children often wear school effect, may span generations. When fashion changes, the uniforms, while college and university students sometimes wear messages communicated by clothing change. particular kind of dress i.e. during special occasions members of religious orders may also wear uniforms or sometimes a single

www.ijsrp.org International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2014 3 ISSN 2250-3153 item of clothing or a single accessory can declare one's factors. The variation and discrepancies in dressing and occupation or rank within a profession. grooming are further influenced by other social cultural issues like religion, race, tribe, values etc. However, cross-cutting Ethnic and political affiliation issues like climatic variations influence the outfits one puts on, a In many regions of the world, national costumes and styles good example seen in those traveling abroad (Kenyans attending in clothing and ornament declare membership in a certain village, ICC cases) are seen heavy woolen outfits immediately they land caste, religion, etc. A Scotsman declares his clan with his tartan. in the Hague and other places and vice-versa when tourist are at A French peasant woman identified her village with her cap or the coast, they dress ―scantly‖ probably to adapt to the hot coif. A Palestinian woman identifies her village with the pattern weather. Therefore, for one to appreciate how people dress, one of embroidery on her dress, coastal women have a particular way has to look at a number of issues though gender still remains the of dressing and so are the pastoralist and other groups. most universal determinant of how people dress. Clothes can also proclaim dissent from cultural norms and mainstream beliefs, as well as political affiliation. As u may have witnessed of late in Kenya, every party has its colour resonating REFERENCES their various political manifestos like the orange colour for ODM [1] Myer D, J., (2003) (ed) Socila Psychology. Wadsworth Publishing and Red for Jubillee etc. [2] Abikoff, H.; Courtney, M., Pelham, W.E., Koplewicz, H.S. (1993). "Teachers' Ratings of Disruptive Behaviors: The Influence of Halo Effects". Religious affiliation Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 21 (5): 519–533. A Sikh or Muslim man may display his religious affiliation doi:10.1007/BF00916317. PMID 8294651. 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[23] Dion, K; Berscheid, E; Walster, E (December 1972). "What is beautiful is good". Journal of personality and social psychology 24 (3): 285–90. doi:10.1037/h0033731. PMID 4655540. AUTHORS [24] Murphy, Kevin R; Robert A Jako, Rebecca L Anhalt (04/1993). "Nature and consequences of halo error: A critical analysis". Journal of Applied First Author – Chang’orok Joel email: [email protected] Psychology. 78(2) (2): 218–225. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.78.2.218. Second Author – Clariss Kasamba [25] Klein, Jill; Niraj Dawar (September 2004). "Evaluations in a Product-Harm Crisis". International Journal of Research in Marketing 21 (3): 203–217. doi:10.1016/j.ijresmar.2003.12.003. Retrieved 11/08/13.

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